[Cecilia's holy blood possessed the power to erase all traces of Honkai in an instant. With the Black Abyss and White Flower in her grasp, even a Herrscher could fall before her.
"I'm sorry, Siegfried… I lied to you."
Her voice trembled, heavy with sorrow.
"This time, I won't be able to return with you. Forgive me, Kiana… when you grow up, take care of your father."
Tears streaked down Cecilia's cheeks as blood dripped from her trembling hands. Drawing in a deep breath, she gathered her resolve and lifted the Black Abyss and White Flower high into the air.
"Black Abyss and White Flower—Holy Blood Liberation!"
The white flower continuously drew Cecilia's blood, dyeing the blossoms it bore a deep crimson. "White Flower Stained in Blood, carve a path forward for Siegfried."
Countless droplets of blood coalesced into a massive lance, aimed directly at the core of the rampaging Herrscher of the Void.]
[Siegfried]: "Cecilia... I failed you. I couldn't protect you, nor could I take care of our child."
[Durandal]: "Mom... No, no—why? Why does my heart hurt so much? Why does it feel so unbearably sad?"
[Rita]: "Lady Durandal, it seems fragments of your past memories have resurfaced."
Kiana: "Huh? Wait, you lost your memories too?"
[Durandal]: "'Too'?"
[March 7th]: "Wait, you guys as well?"
[Stelle]: "Uh... me too?"
Dan Heng: "Between the five of us, do we even have one complete set of memories?"
[Silver Wolf]: "I'll sign Blade up for this too."
[Bailu]: "How did we suddenly get so many amnesia patients in one place?"
[Blood dyed the space red, marking the path for Siegfried. Siegfried injected the last activation serum. "Welt. Once more—
Fight by my side!"
As Welt's Herrscher core was slotted in, the Judgement of Shamash grew even more powerful. "Second Herrscher core energy detected.
Energy levels exceeding 150%. Judgement of Shamash—Limit Release."
Boundless energy surged through the blade as raging flames engulfed it. Closing his eyes, Siegfried saw Cecilia and Kiana's smiling faces in his mind. He prayed: "Judgement of Shamash, unleash all your power. Even if it burns my body to ashes—so be it."
"To protect those I love most—"
"I will gladly offer my life!"
Judgement of Shamash—Ember Form! With all his might, Siegfried swung forward. The tremendous heat illuminated the snowy plains, visible even from space. That single slash parted the Earth like a comb through hair.]
[March 7th]: "To protect those I love most, I will gladly offer my life!"
[Stelle]: "To protect those I love most, I will gladly offer my life!"
[March 7th]: "What are you, a broken record?"
[Stelle]: "You started it!"
[Yanqing]: "What an overwhelming strike! Though compared to the Divine Sword Intent, this one's all brute force—no finesse, just raw power!"
[Yunli]: "Can this even be called swordsmanship?"
Einstein: "As expected of the strongest Key of Destruction. Its full-powered devastation is truly unmatched."
[Raven]: "That attack just gave Earth a middle part, didn't it?"
[Grey Serpent]: "Truly a weapon only our Sovereign can wield to perfection. Such might!"
[Pardofelis]: "Old Man Kevin's strength is insane! Siegfried needed two Herrscher cores to use Ember, but Kevin spams it like it's nothing!"
[Vill-V]: "What else did you expect?"
["Lord Otto, we've detected Judgement of Shamash's energy signature—three times stronger than before."
"After its activation, all Honkai energy readings in Siberia have vanished.
Surveillance satellites are back online."
"We've located Sir Siegfried and the Second Herrscher. Both show critically weak vital signs."
"Lady Cecilia's whereabouts remain unknown. Should we dispatch reinforcements?"
Otto clenched his fist tightly. From Siegfried, he sensed a threat. Coldly, he ordered
Amber: "Launch a Honkai fission missile at their location. Officially, we'll claim it was the final blow against the Second Herrscher."
"Siegfried... That power is too dangerous."
"You can die in Siberia."
... "I can't feel anything... Am I... dead?"
Siegfried awoke in Cecilia's arms. Seeing him regain consciousness, Cecilia's tears fell uncontrollably, pattering onto his face like rain as she choked out: "This time... I lied. I can't go back with you."
"Cecilia... What are you saying...?"
Faced with her words, Siegfried panicked completely. With one last reluctant glance at him, Cecilia enveloped Siegfried in the Black Abyss and White Flower's protection. Against the fission missile launched by the Overseer, she had one final act to fulfill. She caught Sirin and cradled her gently in her arms. "Sirin... poor child."
"In that illusion, I saw your loneliness and pain."
"Back then... I truly wanted to be your mother—to make up for everything you lost."
"But at that time... I couldn't change anything." "At least... in your final moments... let me give you warmth."
Amidst a sea of white flowers, Cecilia and Sirin reached the end of their journey together. ...
In the villages nearby, petals red as blood drifted through the air. Those touched by them found their Honkai energy purged entirely. Though over 100,000 had been infected, fewer than 3,000 perished. And so, the Second Eruption came to an end.]
[Siegfried]: "OTTO, YOU MONSTER!!!"
[Otto]: "Siegfried, need I remind you that you're still a deserter? Besides, even without my missile, Cecilia was already at death's door—wasn't she?"
[Theresa]: "So this is why? This is why you altered my memories? Grandfather! I'll never forgive you!"
[Otto]: "I did it because I knew you'd throw a tantrum. Now stop sulking."
[Kalpas]: "Otto—FIGHT ME! YOU DESERVE TO DIE!"
[Sakura]: "Just because Siegfried's power threatened you, you tried to kill him? Someone like you—I refuse to acknowledge!"
[Herrscher of the Void]: "This... this can't be! She wasn't lying? Cecilia... Mom..."
[Durandal]: "Lady Cecilia was a Valkyrie worthy of respect. Now... I finally understand the meaning behind the Black Abyss and White Flower."
"Let it accompany me as I save this world!"
[Siegfried]: "So much like her... Kiana..."
As he read Durandal's words, Siegfried was reminded of the past—of a little girl who once wielded an umbrella like the Black Abyss and White Flower, dreaming of saving the world.